One of the best parts of a birthday party!

HSP is currently looking for age-appropriate donations to our Party-In-A-Box kits, specifically for children ages 8-11!  Party-In-A-Box kits are an important component of our Children’s Birthday Project, which provides a 20-25 lb package to 900 needy children in DuPage and Kane Counties.
 

On their special day, each child receives their Birthday Box, which contains presents and a Party-In-A-Box kit.  Each kit contains all the makings for a super birthday party, including cake mix, frosting, balloons, streamers, party favors, napkins, candles, plastic cutlery, and a tablecloth! Combine that with a little love, and it’s a recipe for a magical birthday!

These children come from families with very little financial resources, and their parents are unable to give them presents or a birthday celebration.  Children in poverty often hear their more affluent classmates talking about their birthday parties, and feel like they are different and out of place.  By providing them with the means to have a birthday party, we are helping these children feel happy, special, and most importantly, normal on their birthdays.

If you would like to make a donation for the Party-In-A-Box kits, you can contact HSP at hsp@humanitarianservice.org, or at (630)-221-8340.

Roselle KinderCare “Stuffs the Bus” for Needy Seniors

Humanitarian Service Project would like to extend our thanks to KinderCare in Roselle for donating a large amount of paper products for the sake of the needy seniors in our Senior Citizen Project. The staff and children of KinderCare donated the paper products through a “stuff the bus” event, in which they brought in donations to completely fill their bus with facial tissue, toilet paper, and paper towels to give to needy seniors. We want to thank everyone at KinderCare for making this donation to provide for the needy seniors in our project.

This awesome drive from KinderCare is Roselle is a part of the ongoing mission of the local KinderCare district to reach out to the needy of the community. In June, we hosted a group of directors and managers from 12 local KinderCare locations, who volunteered their time in our warehouse to both help out and learn more about our projects. We are very happy to have KinderCare’s support in our mission to alleviate the burden of poverty for the needy seniors and families served by our projects.

The needy senior citizens in our project will receive these paper products as part of their monthly 90 lb delivery of groceries. Items such as these are very important to provide these seniors the opportunity to live healthy, comfortable lives. You too can help us reach out to needy seniors, either by donating paper products, or learning other ways to serve by checking out our website: humanitarianservice.org.

New Intern Joins The HSP Team!

We would like to welcome the newest member of our team, Ashley!  Hailing from Aurora, Ashley is a senior at Northern Illinois University, majoring in Corporate & Organizational Communications with a specialization in public relations.  As HSP’s Public Relations intern, she will be assisting HSP with press releases, outreach, and keeping the community informed and engaged with everything that is going on at HSP. After she graduates in December, Ashley hopes to develop her skills in public relations and business management through graduate work in International Business.

She has had quite a bit of experience working with non-profits even before coming to HSP.  Ashley has always had an interest in service work, having done extensive work for the Semper Fi Fund, which financially helps injured Marines and other members of the U.S. Armed Forces. While in high school, she coordinated services for DuPage County P.A.D.S (an organization which helps homeless individuals in DuPage County) in addition to volunteering her time at a local nursing home. 

When Ashley is not busy with school, work, and volunteering, she loves to spend time with her family and four dogs. Ashley says she is really looking forward to working with HSP, and we, in turn, are excited to have her on the team. Please join us in welcoming Ashley to HSP!

A “League” of their Own

Today at HSP we had the pleasure of working with a great group of sons and mothers from the Carol Stream Panthers Chapter of the Young Men’s Service League (YMSL). The YMSL is a service organization that has mothers and their sons volunteer as a pair doing community service to help better the community. A great group of 9 boys and mothers came today and helped HSP sort out non-perishable food items for the 150 needy families who will receive groceries from our Christmas Offering. 

It was a great experience seeing both mothers and sons working side by side to serve families in need! We hope they had just as much fun as we did. HSP would like to thank the YMSL for taking time out of their day to volunteer with us. This is not the only volunteer event that the YMSL has done with HSP this year. Most recently, they helped us by organizing a toy drive in September. In July the YMSL volunteered their time as toy sorters and helped unload food donations from this summer’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive. HSP is grateful we have so many supporters at the YMSL. We hope to see them again soon! HSP would also like to thank volunteers Tom Hogan and Jeff Marker for volunteering their time to help get this group acclimated to our warehouse.

Our Christmas Offering is a huge event here at HSP where we give 150 needy families 250 pounds of groceries!   In addition to these 150 families, all of the families in our Children’s Birthday Project will receive Christmas gifts! In order for us to help this many children and families we are in need of some wonderful volunteers, like our friends at the YMSL. You can also help out by signing up for “giving trees” or sponsoring a needy family for $60. If you are interested in volunteering this holiday season please email us at hsp@humanitarianservice.org or call us at 630-221-8340, we would love to talk to you!

The Humanitarian Service Project would like to take this opportunity to highlight another great local organization that does so much for us, The Carol Stream Woman’s Club! The Carol Stream Woman’s Club has done a hefty amount of food and paper drives with us and they’ve sponsored numerous needy seniors in our Senior Citizen Project over the past 20 years. We are grateful to have this fantastic group right in our own backyard!

The Carol Stream Woman’s Club is celebrating 52^nd years of philanthropy and giving back to the community. The Woman’s Club would love to keep supporting local initiatives with their philanthropy and volunteer work, but they need your help. The Woman’s Club is in need of more members to help propel their 2013 initiatives that will be starting soon. If you are interested in getting involved with The Carol Stream Woman’s Club then feel free to attend an upcoming meeting being held at Glenbard Feed the Kids

North High School November 20^th at 7pm. If you would like to directly contact the Woman’s Club, you can send an email to carolstreamwomansclub@gmail.com.

Even if joining the club is not for you, you can still support this wonderful organization by marking your calendars for next Saturday November 3^rd for their Italian Dinner Fundraiser! The dinner will be held at the Holiday Inn at 150 S Gary Ave, Carol Stream, IL with an open reception starting at 6pm, and the dinner, dancing, and raffles and even a magician. The menu has a variety of items including pommery crusted chicken breast, family style mostaccioli and sliced sirloin of beef, and chicken tenders for the kids!! Each adult ticket is $20 dollars and children 12 and under are only $8 dollars. This event will help fund the Carol Stream Woman’s Club’s philanthropic endeavors in the community! If you are interested in attending the Italian Dinner, please contact Barb Siegman at 630-260-1861.

To see more information about the Carol Stream Woman’s Club you can visit their website at www.cswomansclub.org. 

Gregory Middle School Donates Toys to HSP

HSP would like to extend a huge thank you to the Student Council of Gregory Middle School in Naperville, for conducting a toy drive for the sake of the needy children served by our Children’s Birthday and Christmas Offering projects. Each member of the student council contributed at least one new toy to this donation, which included great items like games, dolls, sporting equipment, and even a skateboard.  This donation of toys has become an annual tradition for the student council, which has been providing toys to the children HSP serves for over a decade!

The student council made the donation at a meeting yesterday, which was attended by HSP volunteer speaker member Georgeann Georges. Georgeann gave a presentation to the students, educating them about HSP’s programs and letting them know how important toy donations like theirs are. Lauri Bruder, Advisor of the student council, was very happy to have Georgeann at the meeting, because she wanted the kids in the student council to understand the significance of their donation and hopes to inspire them to be even more active in service.

Again, we want to thank the Gregory Middle School Student Council for this wonderful donation, and we want to thank Georgeann for both speaking at the event and delivering the toys after the meeting (in the rain, no less!)

Our annual Christmas Offering is only two months away, and HSP is committed to providing new toys to 1500 needy children in DuPage and Kane Counties. If you would like to help us accomplish this by conducting a toy drive or providing a “giving tree” for one or more needy child, please call HSP at 630-221-8340. 

Thanks to the Junior League and Alpha Gamma Delta Alumnae!

At the Humanitarian Service Project we’ve been blessed to have so many members of the community who use their time and talents to help us serve the needy seniors and children in our projects. Recently, two such groups dropped off some very thoughtful donations for the sake of the children in our Children’s Birthday Project, and we want to take this opportunity to acknowledge them.

The first of such donations was made by the Junior League of Kane & DuPage County, who purchased the supplies for and assembled 25 absolutely phenomenal “party-in-a-bag” kits for the needy children served by our Children’s Birthday Project. These kits include all the items necessary to throw a great birthday party including, balloons, cake mix, icing, streamers, party hats, candles, hats, napkins, etc. The Junior League is an organization for women dedicated to volunteerism and community improvement. Sue Wilson, the member of the league who delivered the bags, said they were all very excited to put together these bags to help provide the needy children in our project with a happy birthday. Likewise, we at HSP are so happy to be able to give these kits to the needy children in our project, and we want to thank the Junior League of Kane & DuPage for making them.

Sue Wilson of the Junior League of Kane & DuPage with the donated kits

After receiving this wonderful donation, boy were we surprised to get another fantastic donation of 31 “party-in-a-bag” kits, just a few days later. This donation came from the DuPage and Fox Valley Alumnae chapters of the Alpha Gamma Delta service fraternity, an international organization for women devoted to service and sisterhood. These Alpha Gamma Delta Alumnae put a lot of care into making these kits, unique and special for the needy children we serve. We want to thank them for using their time and resources to help us provide these children with memorable birthdays.

With Christmas approaching, we are entering the time of year where there is even more to do to reach out to the needy children served by our projects, like these two caring have done. If you would like to learn how you too can help out, check out our website at humanitarianservice.org.

HSP Donates to Aurora Schools

Steve and Jeff waiting to drop off school supplies to Aurora 131.

As a result of many generous donations, HSP was able to donate an entire vanload of school and office supplies to the Aurora School District 131 Child Services and Preschool Center in Aurora, IL.  We sent over 36 cases of supplies, including paper, pencils, highlighters, staples, paper towels, envelopes, among other items, to the school district, and the children they serve.

HSP would especially like to thank our volunteers Steve Stasiak and Jeff Marker, who kindly donated their time to drive the supplies to Aurora, last Friday.

The Aurora School District 131 Child Services Office is a section of the Aurora School District, which deals primarily with the areas of Special Education, Health Services, Homebound Students, Homeless Students, and Student Records. The building also houses a preschool, which is affiliated with the district. After dropping the supplies off, Steve and Jeff let us know that everyone at the center was ecstatic to be receiving the supplies. Likewise, we are happy to know that these supplies will soon be in the hands of children who really need them.

If you are interested in donating or assisting the Humanitarian Service Project, please contact us at 630-221-8340, or check out our website at humanitarianservice.org.

UPS Delivers a Double Dose of Service!

Today Humanitarian Service Project was delighted to host not one, but two volunteer groups from UPS who lent their helping hands around our warehouse. The first set of volunteers was a group of three Human Resources employees from various local area UPS Supply Chain Solution Centers, who helped us sort non-perishable food for the needy families who will be served by our Christmas Offering. The group decided to volunteer their time because October is “Global Volunteer Month” at UPS. We’ve had some very wonderful groups from UPS in the past, and this one was no exception. We wish to thank them for taking two hours out of their day to help us serve the needy families in our project.

The other UPS we had volunteering their time around HSP’s warehouse today was a group of eight volunteers from the local Supply Chain Solutions in Carol Stream. These volunteers spent two hours of their time sorting fresh produce and bread that will be delivered to the 121 needy senior citizens in our Senior Citizen Project tomorrow as part of our monthly “delivery day.” Everyone from UPS Supply Chain Solutions have been consistent supporters of our monthly delivery days, and regularly volunteer their time to help us by sorting produce for these monthly events. We want to thank these eight volunteers, and everyone else at UPS Supply Chain Solutions, for the service they have generously given for the sake of the needy seniors in our project.

These two groups from UPS were both of immense assistance by volunteering their time for the sake of the needy families and seniors we serve. If you, or a group you are associated with, would also be interested in helping HSP reach those living under poverty in the area; you can learn more on our website: http://humanitarianservice.org/ or call us at 630-221-8340 for more information.

Our "Divine Savior"

One of our biggest supporters, Divine Savior Parish in Downers Grove, recently hosted a food drive for our Senior Citizen Project! This past Monday our wonderful volunteers, Steve Stasiak and Jeff Marker, picked up the bounty of food. In total, Divine Savior donated 6 boxes and 41 bags of food! HSP would like to thank Divine Savior Parish and all those who participated in the food drive. All of these donations are going to help our impoverished seniors live healthier and happier lives!

HSP is thankful to have Divine Savior Parish as one of our biggest supporters, partnering with us for 20 years! Divine Savior annually participates in our Giving Tree donations for our Christmas Offering, adopting all of our seniors as well as hundreds of children. They also create and donate Boxes of Love (very elaborately decorated senior personal care kits) each February for all of our seniors, and they’ve donated pounds of much needed food and paper products over the years for our seniors. Divine Savior Parish has done so much for us over the years and has given so freely and generously to the children and seniors in our program. HSP is forever thankful for all the time and energy Divine Savior has spent helping others.

Without all of the support we receive from individuals and organizations, HSP would not be able to help as many needy families and seniors as we do today! It’s thanks to groups like Divine Savior Parish that we can continue to help aid those in need in DuPage and Kane Counties. Are you looking for a way to help those in need in your community? Paper drives, food drives, and personal care item drives are a wonderful way you can help HSP give aid and support to impoverished families and seniors all year round. If you would like to organize or host a food drive, paper drive, or personal care items drive please call us at 630-221-8340 or email us at hsp@humanitarianservice.org.  

Thanks Firefighter’s Fund!

HSP would like to issue a big “thank you” to the Chicago branch of the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company.  Every year, the Chicago branch of this national, insurance company dedicates several days to community service. This year, HSP was lucky enough to host a group of three volunteers today as part of one of these “Days of Sharing”.

During their time at HSP, the three volunteers helped HSP prepare for the Senior Delivery Day, which is this Saturday October 20^th.  In preparation for delivery day, they assembled and organized all the necessary produce boxes, and spent three hours sorting and distributing onions and potatoes for each senior. 

On our monthly delivery days, each needy senior served by our project receives 90 pound delivery containing fifteen varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables, numerous non-perishable foods, bread, personal care items, paper goods, and a gift from their “secret pal.”

If you would like to be involved in our senior delivery days, there are numerous ways to get involved. You can learn more at our website: humanitarianservice.org or by calling 630-221-8340. 

Thank You US Cellular!

The Humanitarian Service Project would like to extend a huge thank you to a group of eight volunteers from US Cellular in Chicago for volunteering almost three hours at our center in Carol Stream. This group spent their time here helping us along on preparing for our annual Christmas Offering in a unique way, by being the participants of a “mailing party” to send letters to the needy families that will be served this December. With the 875 needy children served by our Children’s Birthday Project (and their siblings up to the age of 15) receiving gifts through our Christmas Offering, it is important for us to be in touch with their families very early on in the process to coordinate everything. In order, to help us accomplish this, these volunteers helped us put together, or “stuff,” a letter for every single family served by the project.

Having a lot of families to serve translates into an awful lot of letters to send, but this wonderful group from US Cellular took to the task with enthusiasm. With both good spirits and the strong desire to get the job done right, these volunteers finished the task even quicker than we anticipated. This turned out perfectly; as it gave us the opportunity to show them around the facility to better show them what their assistance will help enable HSP to provide for the needy families served by the program. We wish to thank, not only these eight volunteers, but also Beth Kalasmiki at US Cellular for helping coordinate this event.

If you too have a group that would like to be a part of empowering HSP to serve the needy families and seniors in our projects this holiday season, our biggest need is for groups to come in on weekdays in late November and early December. Call us at 630-221-8340 to schedule a time slot.

Thank you, Fox Valley Animal Welfare League!

HSP would like to take a moment to thank the Fox Valley Animal Welfare League for their service and generous donations.  Every month since May, the Fox Valley Animal Welfare League has been generously donating pet food to feed the cats, dogs, birds, and other pets of needy seniors in HSP’s Senior Citizen Project. HSP would like to give a big “thank-you” to Bob Kingsley, who has delivered donated pet food to HSP each month, and Mary Beth Kingsley, who assisted Bob with this month’s donation. Both Kingsleys are very active in the Animal Welfare League, and HSP is grateful for everything they have done!

Bob and Mary Beth Kingsley dropping off a donation to HSP

The Senior Citizen Project, which serves 121 needy seniors in DuPage and Kane Counties, delivers a monthly package of 90 pounds, which includes fresh fruits and vegetables, non-perishables, frozen meats, bread, paper products, personal care items, and a gift from a “secret pal” to each of the seniors.

 

In addition to providing companionship, owning a pet has a positive impact on one’s own health, outlook on life, and activity levels.  Many of the HSP’s seniors own pets, but are unable to afford the high cost of pet food. Our seniors are grateful for all the help in keeping their furry and feathered friends well-fed!

Thank you again, Fox Valley Animal Welfare League!

If you are interested in donating or assisting with the Senior Citizen Project, please contact the Humanitarian Service Project at 630-221-8340, or at hsp@humanitarianservice.org.

Friendly Faces Wanted!

HSP is always in need of volunteers, and even more so now because we’re gearing up for our busiest season! Specifically, we are in need of a few office volunteers to help with general administrative office duties. Volunteers will be asked to answer phones, greet donors and other volunteers, keep records of donations, and work with volunteers and staff on multiple projects.

If you enjoy working in groups and customer service roles then this is an excellent opportunity for you! We ask that our volunteers have good customer service and communication skills, are comfortable with Microsoft Office programs, and are able to effectively multi-task. Interested candidates need to be able to volunteer regularly. Don’t worry if you lack previous volunteer experience, training will be provided!

The times when we need the most help are:

Tuesdays from 9:30am till 5:30pm and

Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 2:00pm-5:30pm

If you are available during any of those times and would like to come and volunteer at a fun, exciting, and wonderfully energetic non-profit helping those in need this holiday season then call us at 630-221-8340 or email us at hsp@humanitarianservice.org. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Giant Steps at HSP

Yesterday, HSP had the pleasure of hosting a group from the wonderful organization Giant Steps in Lisle, IL. Giant Steps is a school that helps families and children affected by autism. They have many specialized programs that help kids with autism improve their communication abilities as well as their social and emotional development. The visitors from Giant Steps came to HSP to take a tour and drop off a donation of non-perishable food and personal care items (items like toothpaste, Kleenex, and shampoo) for the needy seniors in our Senior Citizen Project.

It was great having the students from Giant Steps walk around HSP and learn more about our Senior Citizen Project. The students were able to see our large warehouse full of non-perishable foods and our section dedicated to senior personal care items. They also really enjoyed seeing our toy room with our stock of toys for the children in our Children’s Birthday Project. This was probably the highlight of the tour!

HSP would like to thank everyone involved at Giant Steps, the teachers, councilors, and especially the students who were so well behaved. We loved having all of the kids and educators here at HSP with us and we are looking forward to having them back again soon! 

HSP Spotlight: Secret Pal Program!

HSP is currently looking for dedicated people to help with our Secret Pal Program. This program presents an opportunity to make a difference in a needy senior’s life.

The Secret Pal Program works is part of our popular Senior Citizen Project, which makes monthly deliveries of fresh produce, frozen meats, non-perishables, and paper products to needy seniors in DuPage and Kane Counties.  

How does the Secret Pal Program work?  Every Secret Pal is assigned to a senior, and each month, a Secret Pal purchases one $5-$25 gift for their senior, and drops it off at our center in Carol Stream.  On Delivery Day, our drivers will drop the gift off at the senior’s house for them, along with their grocery package.

What kind of items should I purchase for my senior?  When they enter the Senior Citizen Project, each senior creates a wish list containing items that they would like to receive.  These items range from necessities to fun items, but are all things that make the seniors’ lives more comfortable.

Why should I be a Secret Pal?  If you would like to help the needy seniors in your community, who are unable to provide for their necessities and creature comforts, the Secret Pal Program is for you.

There are currently seven needy seniors without Secret Pals. If this seems like an opportunity you would be interested in, please consider joining the Secret Pal Program. Any and all support is appreciated!

If you would like to join the Secret Pal Program, please contact the Humanitarian Service Project at 630-221-8340, or hsp@humanitarianservice.org. 

Support HSP’s Christmas Offering

With the discussion of all the wonderful volunteer groups we’ve hosted at HSP over the past week, who have helped us getting the ball rolling for our Christmas Offering, we thought we would take this opportunity to let all of our supporters know the many ways they can help HSP serve needy families and senior citizens this Christmas. For our Christmas Offering, HSP serves 150 needy families with three weeks worth of nutritious groceries, as well as providing gifts for all 120 needy seniors in our project and all 875 children in our Children’s Birthday Project (plus their siblings up to age 15.) With all of this going on at Christmas time, there are a number of ways for people to help HSP reach out to these needy seniors and families over the holidays.

One possibility is to sponsor a needy family in the Christmas Offering, to help HSP provide them with groceries this holiday. Families receive six boxes full of non-perishable food, 15 varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables, 7 frozen meats, and all the fixings needed for a holiday meal. A $60 donation sponsors a family in this program.

Another option is to provide one or more “giving tree(s)” for needy children. Giving tree donors will receive the names and ages of needy children alongside a list of suggested gift items for children of that age group. Giving tree donors then buy and wrap a special gift for that child. We are also looking for giving tree donors for the 120 needy seniors in our Senior Citizen Project.

Gifts organized in our warehouse for needy children during last year’s Christmas Offering

These are just a couple of the ways to empower HSP to help make the holidays brighter for the needy families and seniors we serve. If you are interested in learning more about our Christmas Offering, and other ways to contribute, check out our website. If you have any questions, or wish to sign up for giving trees, please call us at 630-221-8340. As always, stay tuned in the coming weeks for more info about our Christmas Offering!

HSP Gets a Shot in the Arm from Some Great Youthful Supporters

Over the past few days, HSP has had the pleasure of welcoming two groups of young people, both of whom brought youthful enthusiasm to helping HSP reach out to the needy seniors and children we serve. First up, on Friday we hosted a lively group of Girl Scouts from Geneva Middle School (troop #4305) who got a tour around our facility to learn more about how HSP combats hunger and poverty in the community. We had a great time showing the girls around, and they even brought with them a donation of $54, to sponsor a needy child in our Children’s Birthday Project!


Not willing to let middle schoolers have all the fun, today we were joined by another group of bighearted youth, this time a group of four high school students from Wheaton Warrenville South’s “South Outreach Club.” These four students generously volunteered three hours of their Columbus Day to help us sort non-perishable food for the needy families we will serve at our annual Christmas offering. We wish to thank this wonderful group from Wheaton Warrenville South, and Girl Scout Troop #4305, for using their youthful vigor to help us serve those in need!

If you would also like to help HSP in our mission to alleviate the pain and suffering poverty brings to our community, like these fine groups did, there are a myriad of ways you can help out. Visit our website for more information http://humanitarianservice.org/, or call us at 630-221-8340. 

HSP Thanks Two Fantastic Groups: Chase and Joint Commission

Joint Commission volunteers

At the tail end of this week, HSP has had the pleasure of hosting two phenomenal groups who took time out of their schedules to volunteer and help us by sorting non-perishable food for our Christmas Offering. We wish to extend a huge thank you to these two volunteer groups from the Joint Commission, of Oakbrook Terrace, and Chase Bank.

Yesterday, a group of 14 volunteers from Joint Commission came to help HSP sort out non-perishable foods for our Christmas Offering. With such a large group, we were able to get a jump-start on our food sorting early for the holidays. Joint Commission has been a great supporter of HSP and we want to thank them for all their hard work!

The Chase Good Works group

To help us keep up the great momentum that the Joint Commission got going, today we also happy to host numerous volunteers from JP Morgan Chase who also assisted in our warehouse by sorting non-perishables through the company’s “Good Works” program. Ten wonderful volunteers sorted out non-perishables and managed to have some fun as well. They were a wonderful group to work with and it was a real pleasure having Chase Good Works help us organize our food for our Christmas Offering.

Our Christmas Offering serves 150 needy families during the holidays with three weeks of groceries including, six 25 pound boxes of non-perishables, 7 frozen meats, and 15 varieties of fresh produce. In addition, all 875 needy children in our Children’s Birthday Project, as well as their siblings up to the age of 15, receive gifts through the offering (which will come to about 1500 children in total!) Since this program is such a large, but worthwhile, undertaking, HSP is thankful we had the help of both Joint Commission and Chase Good Works this week, lending their wonderful support to help get the project started on the right foot.

Raking in School Supplies by the Busload

HSP has received many school supply donations over the past several months but this donation took us all by surprise! St. Francis High School in Wheaton came by on Tuesday this week with a bus full of school supplies. We were overjoyed to receive this abundance of school supplies! Now we are able to equip more impoverished children with the tools they need to succeed in school.

HSP would like to thank St. Francis High School for this massive donation of school supplies, and we want to thank the two special math teachers, Kristina Lipskis and Joan Kustak, for dropping off the school supplies.

During the summer, HSP hosted a large school supply drive donating school supplies to the DuPage County Back to School Fair as well as deserving schools in Aurora and Addison, Illinois. This bus full of donations will only help us further aid needy children and families. School supplies are becoming more and more expensive and families in our community are struggling to procure the necessary supplies for their children. With your help and donations, HSP is able to provide the needed school supplies to these impoverished families in our Children’s Birthday Project along with their birthday presents each year. If you are interested in donating or volunteering at HSP give us a call at 630-221-8340 or email us at hsp@humanitarianservice.org. Remember it’s never to late to donate. 

Karole’s Birthday Celebration

HSP has a wonderful, caring team and staff members, but we would be nothing without our brilliant leader and founder Karole Kettering. Today we celebrated Karole’s birthday with cake, cards, and friends. Over the past 33 years, Karole has dedicated her time and effort to helping the needy families and seniors in DuPage and Kane Counties find resources to help them live happy, healthier lives.

We’ve all come to love and know Karole through her work here at HSP and to show our gratitude our staff members, Bridget Dooley, Kristin Maxwell, Alex Gordy, Tierney Hogan, and Matt McGahan, made a list similar to the list made famous by Johnny Carson called “The Top 11 Things We Love and or have Learned from Karole”. Through all the jokes and laughter it was apparent to everyone that Karole had, and still has, a positive effect on those around her. Together, after having our fun and jokes, we all sang happy birthday and cut the cake.

The Staff, Interns, Karole and Floyd

Today reminds us about how far HSP has come over the past 33 years. Since she founded HSP our projects have grown to provide support to even more families. Back in 1979 when Karole and Floyd decided to help local needy families from their spare room at home during the Christmas season it was hard to believe that their Christmas Offering would be such a success. Over time Karole and Floyd added and expanded their Christmas Offering and introduced new program initiatives that formed our programs we have today: The Children’s Birthday Project, Senior Citizen Project, Feed the Kids, School Supply Drive, and of course the ever growing Christmas Offering. HSP has encountered a few challenges here and there, but thanks to Karole’s relentless dedication and passion, we are able to support more impoverished families and seniors than ever before.

HSP Getting a Leg Up on Holiday Season

It is an exciting day at the Humanitarian Service Project, as we have been busy determining what non-perishable food we will be providing for the 150 needy families that we will be serving during our Christmas Offering this year. While Christmas may seem like a long while off yet, with our Christmas Offering providing food for these families on top of gifts to all of the needy seniors and children in our projects (as well as, the children’s siblings up to age 15,) there is always so much to do. This being the case, we at HSP are happily moving headlong into the planning stages of the offering.

An example box of non-perishable foods that will be going out to one of the needy families served by our Christmas Offering

The boxes of non-perishables, which HSP has been carefully crafting, will contain staple foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in order to provide balanced nutrition to the needy families that HSP serves. In less than two weeks, HSP will begin to welcome volunteer groups who will help us take these boxes of food from the planning stages and make them a reality. If helping HSP brighten the holidays for the impoverished families served by our Christmas Offering by sorting food, or gifts, sounds like something you, or a group you are involved in, would be interested in doing, please consider volunteering. We already have had several groups reserve times on our volunteer schedule, so make sure to call us at 630-221-8340 to claim your spot!

Apple Festival Toy Drive Donation

This past Sunday was a perfect day for an Apple Festival, noted our founder, Karole Kettering. She and her husband, CEO Floyd Kettering, went to the Illinois Natural Pageant (INP) Apple Fest to pick up a bounty of toys for our Children’s Birthday Project.

 The Apple Festival was hosted at Kildeer Countryside Elementary School in Long Grove, IL. Along with all of the apple themed costumes, foods, games, and entertainment, the Apple Festival Pageant donated 900 toys to HSP! The event was a huge success with numerous groups and individuals who donated 40 or more toys, what generosity! Our van was full to the brim.

HSP would like to thank INP for hosting such a wonderful fall family event and donating an overwhelming amount of toys to our Children’s Birthday Project. In addition to donating a wealth of toys to HSP, this past July INP also donated a great deal of school supplies. HSP would especially like to thank Elizabeth Jones for organizing this toy drive event and for all of her continued support for HSP.

All of INP’s donations go towards strengthening our Children’s Birthday Project. When a family is welcomed into our program, we are able to provide their children with a party in a bag kit that contains all you need for a party: candles, cake, frosting, party favors, decorations, plates, and napkins. In addition to the party in a bag, every year on their birthday the children receive a box filled with new birthday gifts such as new books, stuffed animals, learning games, crafts, dolls, action figures, and much more! Each year our Children’s Birthday Project continues to grow as we serve more and more families with children living in poverty. Every donation helps an impoverished family create wonderful memories for their children on their special day. If you would like to host a toy drive or food drive, please contact us at 630-221-8340 or email us at hsp@humanitarianservice.org.